Inflation Device

ABSTRACT

An inflation device includes a cylinder, a piston assembly, a cap, a base assembly, a flow channel assembly, and an inflation assembly. The cylinder includes two compartments. The piston assembly includes two pistons capable of synchronous sliding movement in relation to the two compartments. The cap is mounted on the cylinder. The base assembly is mounted at the bottom of the cylinder. The flow channel assembly includes a flow channel unidirectionally connected with a space formed between the base assembly, one compartment, and one piston. The inflation assembly includes a nozzle connected with the flow channel and attachable to an inflatable object.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an inflation device and, particularly,to an inflation device adapted to provide a larger air output.

Conventional pumps can only provide smaller air output, so that theycannot inflate a tubeless tire to install onto a wheel. Air will leakfrom a gap between the tubeless tire and the wheel.

The present invention is, therefore, intended to obviate or at leastalleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An inflation device includes a cylinder, a piston assembly, a cap, abase assembly, a flow channel assembly, and an inflation assembly.

The cylinder has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end.The cylinder includes a first compartment, a second compartment, and apassageway connected between the first and second compartments. Thepiston assembly includes a first piston slidably mounted in the firstcompartment, and a second piston slidably mounted in the secondcompartment. The first and second pistons are able to simultaneouslyslide in relation to the first and second compartments. The cap ismounted on the first end of the cylinder. A first space is formedbetween the cap, the first compartment, and the first piston. A secondspace is formed between the cap, the second compartment, and the secondpiston. The base assembly is mounted at the second end of the cylinder.A third space is formed between the base assembly, the firstcompartment, and the first piston. A fourth space is formed between thebase assembly, the second compartment, and the second piston. The flowchannel assembly includes a flow channel unidirectionally connected withthe fourth space, and a one-way valve received in the flow channel. Theinflation assembly includes a nozzle connected with the flow channel andattachable to an inflatable object.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the followingdetailed description of illustrative embodiments of this inventiondescribed in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inflation device according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial, exploded, perspective view of the inflation deviceof FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the inflation device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a continued view of FIG. 3 and illustrates first and secondpistons sliding towards a cap.

FIG. 5 is a continued view of FIG. 4 and illustrates the first andsecond pistons located at an end of a cylinder adjacent to the cap.

FIG. 6 is a continued view of FIG. 5 and illustrates the first andsecond pistons sliding towards a base assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-6 show an inflation device according to the present invention.The inflation device includes a cylinder 10, a piston assembly 20, a cap30, a base assembly 40, a flow channel assembly 50, an inflationassembly 60, and a pressure gauge 70.

Cylinder 10 has a first end 101 and a second end 102 opposite to firstend 101. Cylinder 10 includes a first compartment 11, a secondcompartment 12, a passageway 13 located and connected between first andsecond compartments 11 and 12, and a transmission passage 14 connectedwith pressure gauge 70. First and second compartments 11 and 12respectively penetrate through first and second ends 101 and 102 ofcylinder 10. Passageway 13 is located at first end 101 of cylinder 10.Thus, a distance between first and second compartments 11 and 12 can beshortened to achieve a compact appearance of cylinder 10. Transmissionpassage 14 is adjacent to a side of first compartment 11 opposite tosecond compartment 12 and penetrates through first and second ends 101and 102 of cylinder 10.

Piston assembly 20 includes a first piston 21 slidably mounted in firstcompartment 11, a second piston 22 slidably mounted in secondcompartment 12, a first rod 23 connected with first piston 21 andslidably penetrating through cap 30, and a second rod 24 connected withsecond piston 22 and slidably penetrating through cap 30. First andsecond pistons 21 and 22 are able to simultaneously slide in relation tothe first and second compartments 11 and 12. First and second pistons 21and 22 are unable to block passageway 13. First piston 21 includes afirst annular slot 211 formed around an outer periphery thereof oppositeto first rod 23. Second piston 22 includes a second annular slot 221formed around an outer periphery thereof opposite to second rod 24.

Piston assembly 20 further includes a first piston ring 25 mounted infirst annular slot 211, a second piston ring 26 mounted in secondannular slot 221, a first abutting ring 27 mounted around first rod 23and abutting against first piston 21, a second abutting ring 28 mountedaround second rod 24 and abutting against second piston 22, and a handle29 mounted on first and second rods 23 and 24 and corresponding to firstand second pistons 21 and 22 moved in relation to cylinder 10 to abutagainst cap 30. First piston ring 25 slidably abuts against an innerwall of first compartment 11. Second piston ring 26 slidably abutsagainst an inner wall of second compartment 12. First and second pistonrings 25 and 26 are able to reciprocally slide between passageway 13 andbase assembly (40). First and second abutting rings 27 and 28 are ableto abut against cap 30.

Cap 30 is mounted on first end 101 of cylinder 10. Cap 30 includes afirst extended portion 31 received in first compartment 11, and a secondextended portion 32 received in second compartment 12. First abuttingring 27 is able to abut against first extended portion 31. Secondabutting ring 28 is able to abut against second extended portion 32. Afirst space A1 is formed between first extended portion 31, firstcompartment 11, and first piston 21. A second space A2 is formed betweensecond extended portion 32, second compartment 12, and second piston 22.

Base assembly 40 is mounted at second end 102 of cylinder 10. Baseassembly 40 includes a main body 41 connected with cylinder 10, and aplate 42 abutting against a side of cylinder 10 adjacent to firstcompartment 11. Plate 42 is located between cylinder 10 and main body41. A third space A3 is formed between plate 42, first compartment 11,and first piston 21. Main body 41 includes a connection portion 411, afirst protruded portion 412 received in second compartment 12, a secondprotruded portion 413, and a third protruded portion 414 received intransmission passage 14. First and second protruded portions 412 and 413are respectively located at two opposite ends of connection portion 411.Third protruded portion 414 is connected with connection portion 411 andis located between first and second protruded portions 412 and 413.First protruded portion 412 includes a shoulder 4121 formed around aninner edge thereof adjacent to flow channel assembly 50. A fourth spaceA4 is formed between first protruded portions 412, second compartment12, and second piston 22. Plate 42 includes a through-hole 421penetrating therethrough and connected with third space A3 to causeoutside air can flow into third space A3.

Flow channel assembly 50 includes a flow channel 51 penetrating throughmain body 41 and unidirectionally connected with second compartment 12,and a one-way valve 52 received in flow channel 51. Flow channel 51includes a first section 511, a second section 512, a third section 513,and a fourth section 514. Second section 512 is located and connectedbetween first and third sections 511 and 513. First section 511penetrates through first protruded portion 412, which has the inner edgeadjacent to first section 511 to form shoulder 4121. First section511receives one-way valve 52 and is unidirectionally connected with secondcompartment 12. Second section 512 is extended through connectionportion 411. Third section 513 penetrates through second protrudedportion 413 and is connected with inflation assembly 60. Fourth section514 penetrates through third protruded portion 414. Fourth section 514is located between first and second sections 511 and 512 and isconnected with transmission passage 14 and second section 512. One-wayvalve 52 includes a valve body 521, and an elastic member 522. Valvebody 521 and elastic member 522 are received in the first section 511.Two opposite ends of elastic member 522 are respectively elasticallyabutted against valve body 521 and an inner edge of main body 41adjacent to flow channel 51 to cause valve body 521 elastically abuttingagainst shoulder 4121. First section 511 is unidirectionally connectedwith fourth space A4.

Inflation assembly 60 includes a nozzle 61, a hose 62, and a nut 63. Twoopposite ends of hose 62 are respectively connected with secondprotruded portion 413 and nozzle 61. Third section 513 penetratesthrough hose 62 and second protruded portion 413. Nozzle 61 is connectedwith third section 513 and is attachable to an inflatable object. Nut 63is threadedly mounted on second protruded portion 413 and is located atan end of hose 62 opposite to nozzle 61.

Pressure gauge 70 is connected with cap 30.

When first and second pistons 21 and 22 are moved towards first end 101of cylinder 10, the air flowing from first space A1 into second space A2via passageway 13 and the original air in second space A2 togetherunidirectionally flows into fourth space A4. At this point, outside airflows into third space A3. First and second pistons 21 and 22 arecontinually moved towards first end 101 of cylinder 10 until firstabutting ring 27 abuts against first extended portion 31, and secondabutting ring 28 abuts against second extended portion 32. At thispoint, first and second pistons 21 and 22 are unable to block passageway13.

When first and second pistons 21 and 22 are moved towards second end 102of cylinder 10, the air in fourth space A4 pushes valve body 521 tounidirectionally pass through one-way valve 52, and then flows into flowchannel 51 to dividedly flow into third section 513, or into fourthsection 514. The air in third section 513 flows through nozzle 61 andenters the inflatable object. The air in fourth section 514 flows intopressure gauge 70 via transmission passage 14. Outside air flowing intothe third space A3 via through-hole 421 and the original air in thirdspace A3 together unidirectionally flows into first and second spaces A1and A2.

Thus, the inflation device can provide a larger air output includingvolumes of first and second compartments 11 and 12 in a short time tohold a tubeless tire to install onto a wheel.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described,numerous modifications and variations are still possible withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention islimited by the accompanying claims.

1. An inflation device comprising: a cylinder having a first end and asecond end opposite to the first end, with the cylinder including afirst compartment, a second compartment, and a passageway connectedbetween the first and second compartments; a piston assembly including afirst piston slidably mounted in the first compartment, and a secondpiston slidably mounted in the second compartment, with the first andsecond pistons able to simultaneously slide in relation to the first andsecond compartments; a cap mounted on the first end of the cylinder,with a first space formed between the cap, the first compartment, andthe first piston, with a second space formed between the cap, the secondcompartment, and the second piston; a base assembly mounted at thesecond end of the cylinder, with a third space formed between the baseassembly, the first compartment, and the first piston, with a fourthspace formed between the base assembly, the second compartment, and thesecond piston; a flow channel assembly including a flow channelunidirectionally connected with the fourth space, and a one-way valvereceived in the flow channel; and an inflation assembly including anozzle connected with the flow channel and attachable to an inflatableobject; wherein when the first and second pistons are moved towards thefirst end of the cylinder, the air flowing from the first space into thesecond space via the passageway and the original air in the second spacetogether unidirectionally flows into the fourth space, outside air flowsinto the third space; wherein when the first and second pistons aremoved towards the second end of the cylinder, the air in the fourthspace unidirectionally passes through the one-way valve and flows intothe nozzle via the flow channel, and finally enters the inflatableobject, outside air flowing into the third space and the original air inthe third space together unidirectionally flows into the first andsecond spaces.
 2. The inflation device as claimed in claim 1, with thefirst compartment and the second compartment respectively penetratingthrough the first and second ends of the cylinder, with the passagewaylocated at the first end of the cylinder, and with the piston assemblyincluding a first rod connected with the first piston and slidablypenetrating through the cap, and a second rod connected with the secondpiston and slidably penetrating through the cap.
 3. The inflation deviceas claimed in claim 2, with the cap including a first extended portionreceived in the first compartment, and a second extended portionreceived in the second compartment, and with the piston assemblyincluding a first abutting ring mounted around the first rod andabutting against the first piston, and a second abutting ring mountedaround the second rod and abutting against the second piston; whereinwhen the first and second pistons are moved towards the first end of thecylinder, and the first abutting ring abuts against the first extendedportion, and the second abutting ring abuts against the second extendedportion, the first and second pistons are unable to block thepassageway.
 4. The inflation device as claimed in claim 3, with thefirst piston including a first annular slot formed around an outerperiphery thereof, with the second piston including a second annularslot formed around an outer periphery thereof, with the piston assemblyincluding a first piston ring mounted in the first annular slot, and asecond piston ring mounted in the second annular slot, with the firstpiston ring slidably abutting against an inner wall of the firstcompartment, with the second piston ring slidably abutting against aninner wall of the second compartment, and with the first and secondpiston rings able to reciprocally slide between the passageway and thebase assembly.
 5. The inflation device as claimed in claim 1, with thebase assembly including a plate abutting against the cylinder, with theplate including a through-hole penetrating therethrough and connectedwith the third space.
 6. The inflation device as claimed in claim 2,with the piston assembly including a handle mounted on the first andsecond rods and corresponding to the first and second pistons moved inrelation to the cylinder to abut against the cap.
 7. The inflationdevice as claimed in claim 1, with the base assembly including a mainbody, with the flow channel penetrating through the main body andincluding a first section, a second section, and a third section, withthe second section located and connected between the first and thirdsections, with the first section receiving the one-way valve andunidirectionally connected with the fourth space, and with the thirdsection connected with the nozzle.
 8. The inflation device as claimed inclaim 7, with the main body including a connection portion, a firstprotruded portion, and a second protruded portion, with the first andsecond protruded portions respectively located at two opposite ends ofthe connection portion, with the first protruded portion received in thesecond compartment, with the first section penetrating through the firstprotruded portion, with the second section extended through theconnection portion, with the inflation assembly including a hose, and anut, with two opposite ends of the hose respectively connected with thesecond protruded portion and the nozzle, with the third section of theflow channel penetrating through the hose and the second protrudedportion, and with the nut threadedly mounted on the second protrudedportion and located at an end of the hose opposite to the nozzle.
 9. Theinflation device as claimed in claim 8, with an inner edge of the firstprotruded portion adjacent to the first section forming a shoulder, andwith the one-way valve including a valve body, and an elastic memberelastically abutted against the valve body to cause the valve bodyelastically abutting against the shoulder.
 10. The inflation device asclaimed in claim 8 further comprising: a pressure gauge connected withthe cap, with the cylinder including a transmission passage connectedwith the pressure gauge, with the flow channel including a fourthsection, with the main body including a third protruded portionconnected with the connection portion and located between the first andsecond protruded portions, with the third protruded portion received inthe transmission passage, with the fourth section penetrating throughthe third protruded portion and connected with the transmission passageand the second section.